Month: May 2018

“Screaming in the Night (Live)” by Krokus – Special Promotional 12 Inch

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In 1986, Krokus released their first live album, ‘Alive  and Screamin” and to celebrate that release they put out a Special Promotional 12″ Single of “Screaming in the Night”.  When I was in New York back in April, I came across this beauty and had to have it.

What attracted it to me was the cover.  It was a variation of the live album’s cover by Les Edwards.  It is so creepy and sinister that it looked perfectly eerie and something I needed in my collection.  The picture is taken from Les Edwards’ painting of ‘The Croglin  Vampire’ and was also used as a bookcover for Best New Horror 1990, edited by Stephen Jones and Ramsey Campbell and published by Robinson, and on Super-Monsters by Daniel Cohen, published by Archway.  Just click on the link if you want to see the original artwork.

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The first side of the record you get two versions of “Screaming in the Night”. You get the live version from the live album and then you get the full length studio version (not the radio edit).  The live version sounds incredible.  It captures the magic of the album version and brings a new energy to the song.  The sound is crystal clear and is everything you want in a live song.

For the live album, there are two changes in the line-up.  You now have Tommy Keiser on Bass and Jeff Klaven on drums.  The studio album had Chris von Rohr on Bass and Steve Pace on drums.  Otherwise, you still have Marc Storace on Vocals, Fernando von Arb on Lead Guitar and Mark Kohler on Rhythm Guitar.

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On Side Two you get a live version of “Headhunter” also from ‘Alive and Screamin”.  It is bombastic, loud, and so in your face.  Marc Storace sounds amazing and the band is hitting on all cylinders.  It is  a raucous good time and they are just killing it.

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I also like the fact it is a promotional copy.  It says it on the vinyl labels as well as the little stamp on the back of the album jacket.  All-in-all, I love it and it is a great addition to the collection and another Krokus album is always a good thing (almost always as they didn’t always get it right, but around this time they did).

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I hope you enjoyed this look at the 12″ Single and maybe I will have some more coming down the pipeline for you to check out.

Ratt – ‘Dancing Undercover’ – Album Review

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Next up in the Ratt album review series is their 3rd studio album, the 1986 album ‘Dancing Undercover’.  The entire band was still in tact and even producer Beau Hill returned for his third album.  The band still consisted of the following:

  • Stephen Pearcy – vocals
  • Robin Crosby – lead guitar
  • Warren DeMartini – lead guitar
  • Juan Croucier – bass
  • Bobby Blotzer – drums

Even though it was the same crew, things were different.  The band decided that they didn’t need a beautiful woman on the cover and opted for pictures of the band members themselves.

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My Sunday Song – “Love Is On the Way” by Saigon Kick

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For My Sunday Song #93 we are keeping the power ballad streak alive.  I bring you the song “Love Is On The Way” by Saigon Kick.  The song was off their 1992 album ‘The Lizard’ and garnered the band their one and only hit which reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.  I guess you could say they were a One-Hit Wonder.

The song wasn’t even really a single.  A couple radio stations in Florida picked it up and the song started to gain some traction.  Before they knew it, they had a huge hit on their hand.  I love to see songs that become popular through word-of-mouth and not being driving down your throat by the record company.

The song seems to be about the here & now.  Two people together at this point in time and going for it, living in the moment before it disappears.  At least that is what I get from the lyrics.  The song is done as purely an acoustic song.  The only drums are the tympani drums and not a full drum kit.  It is very simple in it’s content, but it is able to pull you in and you got lost in the song.  Matt Kramer’s vocals are the power behind the song along with Jason Bieler’s guitar strumming.  It was all magical.

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Friday New Releases – May 25th

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Welcome to the last Friday of May.  Work is really busy right now and I need something to take my mind off of it.  Thank goodness it is Memorial Day Weekend and we get Monday off.  I need it.  There are several releases I will be checking out this weekend and they are highlighted in Blue.  Let me know what you will be getting or whatever might peak your interest.  Have a great weekend!!

  • 81OQuFJNNRL._SX522_  Shawn Mendes – Shawn Mendes – (Island Records):  Shawn Mendes will be played constantly in my house this weekend and for weeks to come as I have two daughters who love him, one daughter a little too much…I swear a restraining order is in her future.  Anyway, I have heard a couple songs and I have to say that “In My Blood” is a rather spectacular song.  If there are any more like this one on the album, it will probably be great.

  • 51vKyvrz9LL._AC_US320_QL65_.jpg  Hoobastank – Push Pull – (Napalm Records):  Here is a name I haven’t heard in years.  Six years to be exact.  It has been that long since their last album and honestly I haven’t followed them in quite a long time.  No better time then the present to revisit the band.  Haven’t heard anything yet so it will be interesting to see what they still have to offer.

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The Original Vs. The Cover – “American Woman”

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For this month’s version of The Original Vs. The Cover we tackle “American Woman” by The Guess Who vs Lenny Kravitz’s version.  The song was originally released in 1969 by Canadian band The Guess Who.  The song went to #1 and became such a popular song in the U.S. mainly because of it’s title.

That is strange because the song is not Pro-American, but it isn’t really Anti-American either.  It is a small part Anti-War song (one line says “I don’t need your war machine”) and large part bashing of American women.  Bashing is harsh, it was more like American women were too much for lyricist Burton Cummings.  Here is what he said about the song to the Toronto Star back in 2014…

“It had nothing to do with politics. What was on my mind was that girls in the States seemed to get older quicker than our girls and that made them, well, dangerous. When I said ‘American woman, stay away from me,’ I really meant ‘Canadian woman, I prefer you.’ It was all a happy accident.”

The article goes on to describe how the song developed and it seems like it was by pure chance…

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RSO (Richie Sambora & Orianthi) – ‘Radio Free America’ – Album Review

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Back in 2013, Richie Sambora met Orianthi and sparks flew, apparently.  The two are an item and now they are putting out music for the masses and it is about time. I love Richie’s vocals and his bluesy, rock style plus he can play the guitar (have you heard of Bon Jovi?).  Orianthi is also one helluva a guitar player herself and she can sing with the best of them.  She has played for Michael Jackson and for Alice Cooper as well as her own solo work.  The two together, I was expecting a bluesy rock album with some amazing guitar work.  Did I get that…well…we will see.

After releasing two E.P.’s in 2017 and a couple singles including one double single, we finally get a full album called ‘Radio Free America’ from RSO (it’s there initials, get it!).  Now here is the problem with that…the full album is all 13 songs previously released with those E.P.’s and singles and only 2 new songs.  That is right, only 2 and one is a cover.  So, if you bought the E.P.’s, you aren’t getting much more.  And to make it worse, it is an album of 15 songs in length (over an hour and 7 minutes).  That is pretty long for an album and you know there will be filler…and trust me there is filler.  I heard they recorded 25 songs, I would like to know where those other 10 songs are.

I have reviewed all the E.P.’s and 2 of the singles previously, but we will compile them here again and make it a full length review adding in the singles I haven’t discussed prior.  We might as well jump in and away we go…

With the opening and title track “Making History” Richie & Orianthi are doing what we wanted them to do.  They are rocking out.  The guitars on this one are exceptional with an almost Def Leppardesque sound from around the “Euphoria” era at times (maybe).  The guitar solo is freaking sensational and it is all I ask from these two.  Of course I have one minor negative on the song.  The vocals are missing something whether it is the chemistry or the mix.  Bob Rock is the producer and he does great work, but I am not a fan of them singing simultaneously.  I prefer them to trade back and forth.

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My Sunday Song – “Alone Again” – Dokken

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For My Sunday Song #92, I am going with another ballad.  This one is from Dokken and is called “Alone Again”.  It seems I am on a kick of Power Ballads since last week saw “Fly To The Angels” by Slaughter.  The song is off Dokken’s 1984 album ‘Tooth & Nail’ and only reached #64 on the Hot 100, but it was #1 in my heart.

Don wrote the song about 8 years earlier and had put it away not to think about it again.  Well, that was until when they were finishing up ‘Tooth & Nail’ and the record company demanded a ballad as all bands had ballads at the time.  Don went through a bunch of tracks when he and Jeff found it and thought they could work with the song.  And work it they did as it came out beautifully.

The song is about a break-up and dealing with the depression that can result from being lonely.  The song captures that sadness in the tone and pacing of the song.  Also, Don’s vocals convey a deep sadness as well.  It really is a sad, depressing and yet beautiful song.   This is not a song to play to cheer you up and unless you really enjoy a good George Lynch guitar solo and some Mick Brown drums.  Because there is that to brighten your day.

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Friday New Releases – May 18th

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Happy Friday.  Not a ton of releases that have caught my attention this week.  There are two that I will be diving in to and they are at opposite ends of the spectrum for sure.  There are a couple more I will try out eventually, but the first two will get most of my attention.  All the releases I will be checking out are highlighted in Blue.  Take a look around and see what else you might like and let me know in the comments.  If you want to see all the new releases coming in the universe over the next several weeks (or months), CLICK HERE.

  • 51oKVmEQtPL._AC_US320_QL65_  James Bay – Electric Light – (Republic Records):  Finally, the super talented James Bay is back with his sophomore release.  Is the sophomore jinx in place or not, we will have to hear it first to decide.  I have heard three singles so far and the first was completely different than his last album which can be good and bad as you don’t necessarily want to alienate the fans you built off that sound.  The next two were a little more in the wheelhouse we expect.  He is a great songwriter, singer and guitar player so we will check this out.  In the meantime, have a glass of “Pink Lemonade”

  • 61bJ20whPcL  Five Finger Death Punch – And Justice for None – (Prospect Park):  Now for the other end of the spectrum, there is Five Finger Death Punch.  The music is just that, a death punch to the face.  Every now and again, I like it hard and I like it loud and this is exactly what I need right now.  So prepare your ears to be decimated.

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Journey – “Open Arms” (The 45 Single)

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One of the most recognizable songs in the Journey catalog was “Open Arms”.  It was from the ‘Escape’ album and the single was released in January of 1982.  The song did pretty damn good and went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, but for some reason it couldn’t hit that #1 spot.  However, that is still one of the highest chart positions the band ever reached for a single if not the highest.

The song is believed by many to be one of the greatest power ballads ever written and is said to be one of the main catalyst for starting the power ballad movement in the 80’s.  The funny thing is that most members of the band other than Steve & Jonathan did not want the song on the album.  It was too sugary sweet for their tastes.  As tie has shown, those members of the band were wrong.

Or were they.  The band became known for this sound and it changed everything for the band from that point on.  They had to have power ballads on every album as they were now expected from the band.  And they did end up writing many more great ones and went on to superstar status.  It did get them huge successes and paydays, but was it worth it?  Probably so.

The song was brought to the band by Jonathan Cain as he already had the melody written when he tried to use it for his previous band, The Babys.  However, vocalist John Waite, was not real keen on the song and said it was too syrupy.  Wow, both bands originally stated the same thing…both were wrong.

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‘Slash’ by Slash & Anthony Bozza – Book Review

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As a Guns ‘N Roses fan, this book was a no-brainer when it went on sale on Amazon.  You will notice a trend on my book reviews in that I always get the books when they are on sale, dirt cheap.  Best way to buy them.  Slash has always been this larger than life Guitar God with his trademark black Top Hat, long curly hair covering his face and a cigarette sticking out of his mouth.  And of course, that is why that picture is the cover of the book.  You instantly know who it is.

The book came out in 2007 and it covers the periods of his childhood, through Guns ‘N Roses rise and fall, Slash’s Snakepit and all the way up to his band at the time Velvet Revolver.  It is a journey filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.  You get to see what influenced him in life and what drove him forward to succeed.  I would say you get everything as he lays it all out on the table.  He isn’t afraid to paint himself in a negative light either.

After reading this book, I am amazed that Slash is actually still alive.  He started doing drugs, drinking and having sex at an extremely young age.  His parental supervision was  interesting as his parents were very artsy and lived a very bohemian lifestyle.  At a young age, he was surrounded by famous people, including the late David Bowie.  He started out skateboarding and eventually discovered the Guitar and then his focus changed.  School was never important, but even less so when he started playing guitar.

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